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WY Elk Unit 38 or 45

Never too early to start thinking about next year hunting season. I am 1 year behind max points and am ready to draw a Wyoming elk tag. looking at the bighorns and eastmans mrs section is pointing me toward units 38 or 45. not looking for any specifics just a unit # P.M. if you wanna keep it quiet or give any additional info. would also consider unit 117 as it is really close to home and I know the elk on the SD very well, just worried about finding elk on small amount of public land.

I am a DIY Public land hunter not scared too hike/hunt rougher terrain.

I am a SD resident and chase elk every fall in black hills unit H2 if anyone needs any info there P.M. me

That's a tough decision!! Both units are great units! I hunt 38 as long as I draw it. Lol there are some great bulls in the unit and I know it.very well. That's why I always choose 38. I have friends that hunt 45 and have great luck every year. If you decide to go with 38, let me know and I will give you some advice

I hunted 45 this year, had 5 points but applied for the special tag (type 9) and drew. 3 of us had tags and we brought home 2 bulls. Hunted 6th-13th and then dad went back for the last 5 days of season and still never had any luck. We saw a lot of elk and some good bulls too. We hired an outfitter and spent half our trip in a spike camp several miles in the backcountry. I think we were a week early before the rut really began, elk were bugling good but wouldn't come in to any call we tried. Guides said that was the worst rut season he has experienced in that area. It was a good trip, we had a great time and became good friends with the guides, Im going to start building points again to get back up there. We saw some good bulls and I was in elk everyday, but we didn't bring home anything big. I have no experience with 38, this was my first year in wyoming and im ready to go back.

Between P.M.'s and post here its pretty split! looks like I can't go wrong with either Unit. I would love to hunt the bighorns for elk/deer every other year or so(I am aware of draw odds and realize this is 2-3 deer tags to 1 elk tag), and would prefer to get familiar with 1 area. I know the deer and elk units are not the same but believe they overlap some. Which area offers good hunting opportunity for deer and elk?

The elk rut in the Bighorns was real late this year and was still going and the bulls bugling, fighting, chasing when we took a 6x7 nontypical bull and a cow from a big herd on opening of rifle season on 10/9 in unit 49 to the south of 45. We took another 5x5 bull the following week and the rut was winding down, but they were still doing some bugling. We also took a cow the last week of the season and there was still some bugling going on, which is as late as I've ever seen it out there and I hunt every year.

Both units are great but I have to go with Jen on this one. It is 38 for me all the way. I too know it exceptionally well and cannot sing the praises of 38 enough. I might say the same of 45 if I knew it as well. The nice thing about 38 is the ability to "follow the herd" if snow pushes them down low. There is a vast array of terrain types and one can hunt from the road and day hike into places or get pretty buried in the bush via backpack, it all depends on what you like. I've done both in there and the quality of the hunts is always wonderful. This last Labor Day weekend found me tagless but a good buddy had drawn 38. We car camped and hunted around our camp. We were in elk the entire time we were out and he punched his tag on a nice bull the third day. He wasn't looking for a trophy and wanted a soft bed each night. Short hikes and lots of elk made for a comfortable, relaxing, and enjoyable hunt. That being said the times I've packed in deeper have been great as well. It all depends on what a hunter is looking for. My two pesos.